Folding table



July 8, 1947. J A. TAYLOR 2,423,529

FOLDING TABLE Filed June 50, 1945 Patented July 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TABLE Auburn Taylor, Charleston, W. Va.

' Application June 30, 1945, Serial No. 602,460

8 Claims.

' This invention relates to folding tables and the like.

Among other objects, the invention aims to providean improved folding table which may be made substantially entirely of sheet material, such as plywood.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding table of such design that it may be stacked with like units in folded condition without danger of injury thereto.

A further object is to provide a sturdy and durable folding table adapted for low cost large scale production.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one illustrative table embodying the invention and shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a, perspective View of a table embodying the present invention, the table being shown in erected or operative position.

Fig; 2 is a, vertical sectional view of the table, one of the pairs of leg units being swung outward to free the dovetail joints which hold them erected.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the table in folded condition.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the leg bracing action of the top skirt.

The illustrative table is in the form of a folding card table, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to specific table sizes or shapes. The top I may be made of plywood or any other sheet or molded material. Because of its strength and durability I prefer to use plywood in which the several plies are bonded togeth'er by plastic. The top I0 is advantageously provided with a skirt H preferably of a depth sufficient to contain within the plane of its bottom edge all of the folded table legs with no projecting parts which might mar adjoining tables in a stack. The width of the skirt and the balanced arrangement of the folded legs also adapts the table to stand erect on an edge without lateral support.

The several leg units (four in this case), I2, I3, I 4, I are preferably made of sheet material, such as plywood and are respectively hinged as at I6 under and to the top, adjacent its edges. Each unit comprises leg elements I! and I8 having an integral interconnection I9 at the top by which the unit is hinged to the top I0. Preferably the inner edge of each leg element is inclined so as to taper the leg downwardly in the conventional manner. The hinge axes of one opposite pair of units (l4 and I5) are differently spaced from the top by hinge strips 2I (attached to the top) of different thicknesses, the difference in thickness being approximately the thickness of the leg unit, whereby units of each pair may be folded under the top to lie flat against each other. In the present instance, opposite leg units I2 and I3 are hinged at 20 to the skirt I I, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to obtain the bracing support of the skirt to limit outward swinging, Their hinge axes are also difierently spaced from the top to permit folding fiat on each other. In this case (see Fig. 3), they are first successively folded in, and the other pair I4 and I5 then likewise are folded (see dotted line positions in Fig2) Thus, as indicated in Fig. 2, all leg units when successively folded under lie flat on each other within the plane of the lower edge of the skirt I I. The lengths of the respective leg units are adjusted to compensate for the different elevation of their hinge axes 22.

The respective pairs of leg units are advantageously provided with simple interlocking means by which they are held in extended or unfolded position (see Fig. 1). The interlocking means is here represented by a separable dovetail joint 23 between adjoining leg elements II. The joint elements are formed in the edges of the leg units themselves making it unnecessary to add separate interlocking means. In the present case, the mortise or recessed element 24 of the dovetail is formed in the edges of the first or inner pair of units I2 and I3, and the tenon 25 of the dovetail is formed on the edges of the other pair I4 and I5, which thereby become the locking leg units.

To erect the table and interlock the units, leg units I5 and I4 are first successively swung out slightly beyond their normal position, and the inner pair I3 and I2 are then swung to position, whereupon the first pair is returned to normal position so that the tenon elements 25 enter the mortises of the first pair I2 and I3 (see Fig. 1), and thereby lock them against movement. The close fit of the joint elements prevents locking leg units I4 and I5 from swinging out because the joint does not readily open by a swinging movement of the leg unit about its hinge axis 22.

The foregoing sequence of operations is reversed in folding the table.

If desired, the ends of the legs of the locking leg units I4 and I5 may be a little short of the floor so that dragging the table over the floor 3 does not exert a lateral force on these leg elements tending to disengage them.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrative construction since these may be variously modified. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly, since various features may be used to advantage in different combinations and subcombinations.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding table comprising, in combination, a table top having hinged below it opposite pairs of leg units formed of sheet material, the hinge' axes of the respective units being at different ele vations so that said units may be folded one on the side edges of the other pair, andintegral interlocking means at adjacent edges to hold'said legs in unfolded position.

2; A folding table comprising; in combination; a rectangular: tophaving-opposite i pairs of: legunits formed- 0f sheet material hinged under thetop; the'hingeaxes of-said1-respectiveunits lying at different elevations so thatthe units maybe folded under the; top jand he one on the-other, said topg havingea whose depth; is suiiicient to enclose said;legunits,aside-edgeof oneof said units in unfolded position lyingadiacent aside edge-of the other of said-unitsin a-cor-responding position, .said =.edge s having interlocking dovetail elements for holding the legsin unfolded position.

3. A folding table' having arrectangular top ofalengith and width greater than its-height from me nder; opposite pairs of leg'i'units formed of sheet fm'aterialhingedunder thetop, one pair of Iegfu'nits h'aVing in menace edges dovetail reces'ses andlthe other pairof leg units having inv the jside edges 'dovetailitenons adapted A to seat injtli'eflrecesfs'e f thefirstp'air oflgaunits and holdtnesame in'position;

4: A foldinggtable comprising, injcombination, aftablefflton havingattachedf to 'itsunder side adjacent it-s edges' hing'eistrips of different thick 4 of one leg unit lying when unfolded against the side edges of adjacent unfolded units, said edges having formed therein dovetail mortise and tenon adapted to interfit to hold said units in unfolded position.

6. A folding table comprising, in combination, a rectangular top having opposite pairs of leg units formed of sheet material, hinge strips differing in thickness by the thickness of said leg units attached to the under side of the'topadjacent its edges, said leg units being foldably hinged to said strips and adapted to be folded under said top to lie one on the other, a skirt around the edge of' the 't0p at a depth to contain said units in v folded position, the outer edges of one leg unit lying when unfolded against the side edges of adjacent unfoldedunits, said edges having formed therein dovetail mortise and tenons adapted to interfit to hold said units in unfolded position.

'7. A folding table having a rectangular top of a length and widthfgreaterithan its height from the floor, opposite pairs of leg units fOIll'lEdwOf sheet material hinged .underthetop. each unit comprising i'spaced. leg elements and: anintegral interconnectionextending between the tops'soi.v said leg elements and by which said.legunits-arehinged; the outside edges of; each pairof-leg.;.element-s engaging like edges of-adjacent units when, unfolded and having; formed thereon comple mentary dovetail mortises and tenons adapted tov interfit tohold the leg -units n unfolded position.

8.-;A}fo1ding table comprising; in -combinatioma rectangular top having oppositegpairsvof .leg; units formed; of sheet-material,-hinge stripsqdiflering in thickness by the thickness of said leg units attached- -to the under side of the "top adjacent, its edges, said-leg units being foldably hinged {to said strips and adapted to be folded underfisaid top to he one on the other, each unit comprising spaced leg. elements-and an integral interconnection extending-between the tops ofsaid leg elements and by which said: leg-;unitsare hinged the outside edges of each; pair of legxelements engaging like edgesof' adjacent units when un-foldeda nesses'gjleg llnits-hinged'to'i'said strips andadapted and having formed thereon complementarydove to be'fold'edjunder said top tolie one onfthe'iother, the side edges -of- Y pairs of 1 units "contacting the side edges 0f other of said pairswhen in erected position; said side edges'having an interfi'ttin'gdovetail -mortise "and tenon 'to' hold'the legs inerectewposmorr.

53 A fol-ding tablegeem'prising; iii-Combination;- a-rectahgulai itopi-hawng opposite pairs-of ieg unit's form'ed of sheet materiaL hingeconnections topadjacent "its-edges iw-ith the spacing'of the hingeaxes 0f tne-respeetive-unitgfrom-"the top diifefing by the thickness of said units, said legunits' beinglvthereby adaptd to be folded under said top to lie 'oneion th'e other} theouteredges 60 1,879,087 1 The following .references are or record in the file of this patent-:1

UNITED STATES IPATEN'IS;

Name: Date: 910,354; 1 Burlingame e g J an}. 19;.19092 1206;570 Marsh:-, Nov- 281-1916: 2,050,340 Horr g Aug; 11,.1936: 1,854,663 Nebel i Apr. 19; 1932 Chomik Sept. 27; 1932 

